NEOM, the sustainable region taking shape in north-west Saudi Arabia, has signed a landmark agreement with DataVolt, a Saudi-based international developer, investor and operator of datacentres, marking a significant step towards realising the Kingdom’s ambition to build a sustainable, data-driven economy.

According to the International Energy Agency, datacentres currently consume between 1% and 1.3% of global electricity demand. With the rapid advancement of GenAI models and high-performance computing, that figure is expected to rise sharply over the coming decade. Hyperscale facilities supporting AI training and inference require vast amounts of power and cooling, intensifying concerns over grid strain, carbon emissions and long-term sustainability.

“This agreement with NEOM and OXAGON underscores our unwavering commitment to support the Kingdom’s vision of becoming a regional digital and AI hub,”  “The Kingdom’s strategic location, coupled with its abundant green energy resources, aligns perfectly with DataVolt’s mission in providing state-of-the-art sustainable datacentres. This project marks a significant milestone in advancing the Kingdom’s leadership as a digital powerhouse in the region.” - Rajit Nanda, CEO of DataVolt

The DataVolt agreement sits within a much broader national strategy. Saudi Arabia has made significant investments in artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure and smart city development as part of its long-term economic transformation agenda. Central to this vision is NEOM, including flagship developments such as THE LINE and OXAGON, which are designed as digitally native environments.

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